ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life 2017 edition

Once upon a time, new Organizer slaying dragons, I read the 2002 edition of “ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life” by Judith Kolberg & Kathleen Nadeau. This was my review:

“I had an unusual reaction to this book by Judith Kolberg & Kathleen G. Nadeau. This is an excellent resource for ADD-abled people because it is explicitly formatted for people with ADD – they can usually read it, when other traditionally-formatted books on the subject might not work for them at all. I LOVE to read. I had a horrible time trying to read this book. It was HARD. It was almost as if, because, at least as far as I know, I don’t have ADD, the book was fighting against me. That was a VERY instructive experience. Kinda like wearing a blindfold for a day to try to understand what it’s like to be blind.”

Now, singed veteran, I’ve just finished the 2017 edition as I get ready for earning an ADHD Specialist Level II Certificate from the Institute for Challenging Disorganization.

2017 is disarmingly different. Most startling, I found it easier to read- and there are reasons why. The print is smaller. The subheadings, sidebars and similar are more closely integrated into the main text. There’s less italicized copy. Former copyeditor that I am – yes, honestly, among many other ways of keeping the paychecks flowing in prior incarnations – I’d love to grab a coffee with Ms. Kolberg and Dr. Nadeau and ask “WHY?”. I’m not criticizing the changes, which I’d bet are practical, because, for example, there’s more (new) material in the 2017 edition. But burning curiosity “WHY?” nonetheless.

The most compelling changes – there are two new chapters. One goes in-depth into Financial Management, and one looks at the monster’s den that is the digital world. This edition of Kolberg’s and Nadeau’s collaboration is just as funny as the old, just as accessible. And now even more critically instructive for ADD-abled people. If you have the old edition, it is worthwhile to update to the new. If you don’t have this work at all, it is valuable for people with ADD or the people who would like to help their ADD-challenged clients, colleagues, friends and family.